Once matured, lettuces and herbs can be cut and eaten until the lettuce becomes bitter and/or bolts. It’s good to not cut more than 1/3 of the total plant at a time. I tend to harvest the full plant and wrap it in Saran Wrap for delivery.
Using a paint can opener, I’ll pull up on the rockwool just a little to loosen it.
Then I’ll pull up on the net pot and pull everything out. (If the lettuce is very big, it will feel like you’re going to break the net pot. If you do, don’t worry. The net pots will still work fine.) This leaves the roots attached so they don’t fall into the Tower Garden. I remove the roots that have grown through the net pot, but leave the rockwool attached to the plant. Then I wrap each plant in Saran Wrap and place them in a plastic tub with a little bit of water. If the rockwool stays wet, the lettuce will stay fresh for several days.
This lettuce is ready to be donated to the local homeless shelter.
In order to keep bugs at bay, I’ll soak the net pots in hot water and a little bit of vinegar.
Net pots soaking in hot water and vinegar.
Using a rag soaked in hot water, I’ll wash the ports.
Using a rag soaked with hot water, I clean the pots.
Remove the top of the Tower Garden and check the holes each time you harvest. It’s important to keep the holes on top of the Tower clean. This allows all the plants to receive the water they need. If you’re seeing wilting plants on one side of the Tower, this is the first place to check.
I take a 12 penny nail and push it through the holes. The nail just fits when the hole is clear.
With regular cleaning each time you harvest, you’ll be less likely to attract insects.